128 GAME BIRDS AXD SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



was perfectly capable of following, as he could now fly 

 well. The latter, after many ineffectual attempts to keep 

 on his legs, was forced to sleep on the ground at the foot 

 of the tree, for, although he managed to get up to the 

 perch, his efforts to keep there were quite useless, as he 

 always fell off again, either backwards or forwards. How- 

 ever, in course of time practice made perfect, and he 

 acquired such a liking for sitting on the trees that he was 

 often afterwards seen in the daytime flying from branch 

 to branch, appearing to be perfectly at home. 



Grouse make most delightful pets, the only disadvan- 

 tage in keeping them being that they are apt to become 

 far too tame, and consequently a source of annoyance. 

 The bird above mentioned had a particular affection for 

 the lawn-tennis court, and whenever any of the members 

 of my friend's family began to play, Mr. Grouse would 

 always put in an appearance, seeming to enjoy the fact 

 that he was an obstructionist, and refusing to clear off 

 unless forcibly removed and shut up in his pen. If taken 

 to the other end of the grounds, he would almost 

 immediately return to the tennis-court. Such was the 

 sociability of his disposition, that he had absolutely no 

 sense of fear at the report of firearms ; in fact he would 

 frequently follow the shooters out to a distance of several 

 fields from the house before he would return home, 

 satisfied that they had taken their departure for the whole 

 day, so that it would be of no use in accompanying them. 

 Every night, before retiring to roost in his beech tree, he 

 would take long flights round and round the house and 

 village, which was close by ; and in the course of one of 

 his evening rambles he espied an old man digging, from 



